Instrument-mounting clamp



Jan. 7, 1930. E. N. com 1,742,253

INSTRUMENT MOUNTING CLAMP Filed April `14:. 1926 l Patented Jan. 7., 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT' OFFICE EDWARD N.J`ACOBI, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO IBRIGGS & STRAT'I'ON CORPORATION, F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE 4 INSTRUMENT-MOUNTING CLAMP application mea. apra 14,

It is an object of this invention to pro vide improved means for securing instruments to dash boards or panelsof vehicles, aeroplanes and the like which will permit the 5 ready mounting of the instruments without interference with any wires, tubes or the like leading thereto and whichmay be readily applied by reaching under the dash board.

Another object of this invention resides 0 in the provision of an improved instrument mounting clamp formed entirely from stampings and having positive clamping means arranged to equally distribute the stresses about the instrument board or panel at a point close to the instrument, to thus eliminate any tendency of the mounting clamp to buckle or otherwise distort the board or panel. And a further object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved instrument mounting clamp which is of extremely simple construction, positive in operation and capable of use with all types of instruments, such as' oil gauges, sw1tches, ammeters or the like.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as a description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially and hereinafter described and more particularly deiined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing, I have illus trated two complete examples ofthe physical Vembodiment of my invention constructed according to the best modes I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which;

Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of an instrument mounting board or panel having an instrument secured thereto by my improved clamp, said view looking at the instrument board or panel from the rear and 192s. serial No. 101,975'.

-trating a slightly modilied form of my invention.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawing, in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, 5 designates the dash board or instrument panel of an automobile, aeroplane, boat or the like, having an opening 6 in which an instrument 7 such as a switch, speedometer, ammeter or the like, is secured by my improved instrument mounting clamp 8, to be later described. The instrument generally includes a housing or a casin 9 having a panel 10 secured to its outer ace and provided with a peripheral rim or flange 11 projecting beyond the case to bear against the front face of the instrument panel or board, as clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. In some instances, the panel 10 has a medial recess to receive an insert or panel face 12, the instrument case, panel and insert being con nected in a suitable manner by a suitable bindin means 13.

n that form of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the panel 10 has lugs or tongues 14 struck rearwardly therefrom at diametrically opposed points, the tongues or lugs lying close to the wall of the case 9 and extending beyond the inner surface of the panel or board and havin apertures 15 therein to receive the retaining ugs 16 of the clamp 8. The instrument board or panel is notched or slotted, as at 17, at diametrically opposed points to receive the lugs or tongues 14. and thus insure the proper positioning of the in- Vstrument in the panel or board.

My improved clamp 8 is stamped or formed 9e from sheet metal, as illustrated in Figure 6, and is then bent to substantiallyU form, the retaining lugs 16 being formed on the medial portions of the arms 18 of the clamp and extending inwardly toward the center of the U, and the extreme ends 19 of the arms are directed forwardly to provide fulcrums adapted to engage the instrument board at points close to the instrument and preferably within the rim or flange of the panel 10. An ear 20 extends downwardly from the closed end of the clamp and is provided with an aperture 21 in which a clamping bolt or set screw 22 is threaded to bind against the rear of the instrument panel or board at a point close to the instrument and preferably within the flange or rim 11, the clamp thus bringing pressure on the panel board at substantially three equi-spaced points. The set screw is then held against retrograde movement to prevent the accidental disturbing of-its adjustment by a lock nut 23.

As will be apparent, with the retaining lugs or tongues 16 engaged in the apertures, turning of the set screw to bind against the instrument board or panel causes the clamp to pivot away from the panel or board on its fulcrums 19 to draw the instrument therethrough with its rim 11 tightly against the board. The three points of engagement of the clamp with the instrument panel or board being equally spaced and close to the instrument and within the confines of the panel rim, prevents distorting of the dash board and rmly secures the instrument in position.

The arms of the clamp are preferably normally spaced a distance slightly less than the diameter of the instrument case and the retaining lugs 16 have their outer ends tapered, as at 24, so that with the instrument in place the clamp may be readily applied from the bottom of the board or panel 5, the arms of the clamp spreading as they engage the instrument ease and the retaining lugs or tongues 14 snapping into lthe apertures 15 thereof. The set screw 22 is then turned by an offset screw driver or other tool to secure the clam in operative position.

That orm of my invention illustrated in Figure 4 eliminates the lugs or tongues 14 and the retaining recesses or apertures 25 in which the retaining lugs 16 of the clamp engage are formed directly in the instrument case. Except for the elimination of the lugs or tongues 14, this form of my invention is identical with that previously described and the manner of mounting the instrument is likewise identical and, therefore, the description applied to Figures 1 and 2 will likewise apply to Figure 4.

The lines joining the points of a plication of pressure passing inwardly of tlie retaining lugs 16 normally tend to twist the clamp arms and disengage the retaining lugs from their recesses 15. This twisting force of the arms is overcome by curving the retaining lugs inwardly and outwardly, as will be readily apparent.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be readily evident to those skilled in the art` to which an invention of the character described appertains, that I provide an improved instrument mounting clamp which will positively clamp an instrument in place and equally distribute the stresses about the mounting board within the confines of the instrument panel rim or flange to prevent placing of undue strain on the instrument board, and which permits the ready mounting of an instrument without interfering with any of the pipes, wires or the like leading thereto.

What I claim as my invention'is:

1. The combination with an instrument adapted to be mounted in an opening in a panel and having a flange on the instrument engaging one face of the panel about its opening, of a clamp arm, a connection between the medial portion of the arm and the instrument, and means at the end portions of the arm adapted to bear against the other face of the panel to secure the instrument therein, one of said last-mentioned means including a threaded member normally urging the-adjacent end portion of the arm from the panel to press the other end portion thereof against the panel and tend to draw the instrument through the opening.

2. The combinat1on with lan instrument board, of an instrument projected through an opening in the board, a flange on the instrument engaging one face of the board about its opening, an approximately U-shaped clamp member embracing the instrument and disp'sed in a plane substantially parallel with the board, means on the outer end portions of the clamp member arms adapted to bear against the other face of the board, means connecting the medial portions of the arms of the clamp member with the' instrument,

and means by which a tension may be placed on the closed end of the clamp member to urge the same away from the board and draw the instrument through the board opening to secure the same therein.

3. The combination with an instrument board, of an instrument projected through an opening in the board, a flange on the instrument engaging one face of the board about the opening, that portion of the instrument projected beyond the other face of the board having openings therein, an approximately U- shaped clamp member engageable about the instrument at the other face of the board, inwardly projected retaining lugs medially carried by the arms of the clamp member and engageable in the instrument openings, fulcr'um members on the outer ends of the clamp member and engageable with the instrument board, and means at the closed end of the clamp member adapted to bind against the instrument board and draw the instrument fiange thereagainst.

` 4. The combination with an instrument board, of an instrument projected through an opening in the board, a iange on the instrument engageable over one face of thev board about the opening, tongue members carried by the instrument and projected bcyond the other face of the board and having apertures therein, au approximately U-shaped clamp member engageable about the instrument at the other face of the board, inwardly extended retaining lugs carried by the medial portions of the clamp member arms and engageable in the apertures of said instrument carried tongues, forwardly directed fulcrum members formed on the outer ends of the clamp member arms and engageable with the other face of the instrument board, a downwardly extended ear. Carried by the closed end portion of the clamp member, and a set screw threaded in the ear of the clamp member and operable to bind against the instrument board whereby the clamp member draws the instrument through the boardV opening to clamp the iange thereof firmly against the lirst face of the instrument board.

5. The combination with an instrument board, of an instrument projected through an opening in the board, a flange on the instrument engageable over one face of the board about the opening, tongue members carried by the instrument and projected beyond the other face of the board and having apertures therein, an approximately U-shaped clamp member engageable about the instrument at the other face of the board, inwardly extended retaining lugs carried by the medial portions of the clamp member arms and engageabie in the apertures of said instrument carried tongues, forwardly directed fulcrum members formed on the outer ends of the clamp member arms and engageable with the other face of the instrument board, a downwardly extended ear carried by the closed end portion of the clamp member, and a set screw threaded in the ear of the clamp member and operable to bind against the instrument board whereby the clamp member draws the instrument through the board opening to clamp the iiange thereof firmly against the iirst Jface of the instrument board, said retaining lugs having their outer ends tapered whereby the same spring into the apertures of the instrument tongues when the clamp member is engaged over the instrument. 6. A device of the character described, comprising a substantially U-shaped clamp member, ulerum means formed on the outer end portions of the arms of the clamp member, adjustable binding means carried by the closed end portion of the clamp member, and means carried by the arms of the clamp mem- .panel board and having a iiange thereon abutting one face of the board, of a clamp arm,

means connecting the medial portion of the arm with the instrument, the end portions of the arm being free and engageable against the panel board means engaging one end portion of the arm with the board, and means urging the other end portion of the arm from the board Vto tend to draw the instrument through the opening and clamp its iange iirmly thereagainst.

8. The combination withan instrument'- board, of an instrument projected through an opening in the board', a iiange on the instrument engaging the outer face of the board about its opening, an approximately' U- shaped clamp member adapted to be engaged about the instrument at the inner face of the board, the arms of theclamp being spaced apart a distance slightly less than the diameter of the instrument, and retaining lugs carried by the arms of the clamp member and adapted to be sprung into recesses in the sides of the instrument to secure the instrument to the board.

9. The combination with an instrument board, of an instrument projected through an opening in the board, a iiange on the instrument engaging the outer face in the board about its opening, an approximately U- shaped clamp member adapted to be engaged about the instrument at the inner face of theboard, the arms of the clamp being spaced apart a distance slightly less than the diameter of the instrument, and retaining lugs carried by the arms of the clamp member and adapted to be sprung into recesses in the sides of the instrument to secure the instrument to the board, said retaining lugs being curved inwardly and outwardly to resist the normal asl tendency of the-arms to twist the vsame out of the instrument recesses.

10. The combination with a casing having a laterally extending shoulder and two opposite ears upon the exterior ofthe casing and both on the same side of the shoulder from which the unattached ends of the ears are spaced apart, of a mounting for the casing entering the spacing between said shoulderl and ears, a loop whose sides are received between said mounting and ears, the ends of the loop sides engaging said mounting, and a spreader member on the same side of the mounting with said ears and movable into spreading position between the mounting and the portion of the loop opposite the ends of the loop, said ears being between the spreader member and the ends of the loop, the spreader member serving to position the loop to maintain the shoulder upon the casing against said mounting.

11. The combination with an instrument board, of un instrument projected through an 5 opening in the board, u fiange carried b the instrument and engaging one face o the board about its opening, a clamp arm inde- -pendent of the instrument, means detachably 10 connecting the medial portion of the arm with the instrument, and means at the ends of the arm adapted to bear'against thel other face of the board to secure theinstrument therein, one of said last-mentioned means` being adjustable with respect to the arm,

In testimony whereof I hereunto afx my signature.

EDWARD N. J ACOBI. 

